Electric control device



Aug. 1952 H. s. CHASE 2,606,237

ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet l lNVENTOR fiarace S. C/zase BY [MAX Wfisrs Aug. 5, 1952 H. s. CHASE ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Nov. 18, 1946 INVENTOR Ho race 15. 6/263 n2 fo7ns Aug. 5, 1952 H. s. CHASE ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 18, 1946 6 5 Wm M T m S w g- 5, 1952 H. s. CHASE 2,606,237

ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE Filed NOV. 18, 1946 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 i88 NVENTOR g Horace 5. Chase 5 :3

ATTORNEYS Patented Aug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC CONTROL DEVICE Horace S. 'Chase, New York, N. Y. "Application November 13, 1946, Serial No. 710,427

6 Claims.

This invention relates to control devices, and

jmore'in particular to the electrical operation of locksand latches on automobiles. 2m object of this invention is to provide a control system which is simple and sturdy in construction and yet which may be operated with facility by "authorized persons without permitting operation "by unauthorized persons. A further object is to provide a dial control which i'scoinpact and light in weight and which is extremely dependable in use. These and other objects will be in part obvious and in part outlined below.

In the drawingsin which is shown one embodimeat of the invention:

Figure l isa 'iront'elevation of the dial control and centactor-relay unit'of the system;

figures 15a vertical section on the line 2-2 '0? Figure 1;

3 is a rear elevation taken from the right-hand side of Figure 2;

4, 5, and 6 are vertical sections taken along the lines 4-1, 5-5, and 6-6 respectively of Figure 2;

Figure 7 is an enlarged sectional view on the use 1-4 bf menu 5 of a modified form; and,

Figure 8 is a schematic diagram representing the electrical circuit "for the system in somewhat simplified form.

In accordance with the present invention, a is provided which includes a control dial wh'lim is manipulated to control locks and other mechanisms. The operation is in accordance with a sire-set combination and if this combination is unknown, the mechanism is not released dr'opened. -W-hen desirable, an alarm system is rendered operative to give an alarm in the event of manipulation other than that in accordance with the combination. When the system is used on an automobile, for example, the automobile horn or the lights may be operated to give such an alarm. In the illustrative embodiment of the invention there are sixteen dial numbers which correspond to dial positions; and the dial controls four electrical relays, three of which are sequence relays and must be energized in proper "sequence in order to operate the combination and thus operate a lock. The fourth relay is a "reset" relay which operates each time that the dial is manipulated improperly, that is, in a other than in the proper sequence. The operation of this reset relay releases such of the other relays as are then and also may turn on the alarm for the system. 'Therefore, if a person starts to manipulate the dial,

'does notmanipulate the dial in accordance with the combination. By adding additional numerals, additional dial positions may be provided; and, by adding additional relays, the sequence of numbers constituting the combination may be increased.

Figures 1 to 7, inclusive, show the dial and contactor-relay unit which is manipulated to operate thecoinbination. Referring particularly to Figure 2, this unit is mounted in an opening in a fixed panel 4 by four screws 6 which clamp circular dial 3 to the panel. (See also Figure 1.) Projecting rearwardly from dial 8 are four bolts ll'l (the opposite ends of which are shown at the right in Figure 2) which carry spacer sleeves 12 adjacent dial 8 and upon which is rigidly mounted the relay and contactor assembly generally indicated at M. This assembly is held in place by nuts IS on the ends of bolts [0 and includes a cylindrical shell 18 and a rear plate-2E1, both or insulating material, and a front plate 2| of metal.

Dial "8 has a central recess in which is positicneda flanged sleeve 22, and within this sleeve and loosely ke v'etl to it is a shaft 2 4. The righthand of shaft 2! 'w ciwt's through a central bearing opening in disk so that the shaft is journaled at one end in the disk and at the other end with sleeve 22 in dial 8, and the shaft may slide alimited distance with respect to sleeve 22. Fixed to sleeve 22 is a knob 26 by means of which the sleeve and the shaft may be rotated, and the knob is centrally re essed to receive a plunger knob '25 which is fixed to the end of the shaft by a screw 30. Fixed to shaft 24 adjacent sleeve 22 is a dial disk 32 which has around its periphery a row of sixteen circular numeral spaces 34 indicated in broken lines in Figure l. Marked in luminous radium paint within the numeral spaces are the respective numbers 1 to 16, inclusive. Dial 8 has near its top a circular opening '38 which is in alignment with the row of numeral spaces 34; and, as knob 26 is turned so as to rotate shaft 24, the numerals move past opening 38 and indicate the angular position of shaft '24. r

The front plate 2| of assembly I4 (Figures 2 and 4) has an integral central sleeve 43 in which is positioned a compression spring 42. Spring 42 bears at the left against a hub 33 of dial disk 32 and at the right against a flange 44 at the end of sleeve '40. As indicated above, shaft 24 is loosely keyed to sleeve 22 so that while the rotation of knob 26 is transmitted through the sleeve to the shaft the shaft still'has limited sliding movement with respect to the sleeve. Spring 42 exerts force through hub 33 of dial disk 32 to shaft 24, urging the shaft to the lefthand position shown, but, when force is exerted on plunger knob 28 the shaft slides to the right. Near its right-hand end shaft 24 carries a spring metal contactor arm 46 which is tapered as is shown in Figure 6 and which carries at its outer end a contact'48. A screw 50 extends through the hub of the contactor arm and the shaft and, therefore, the contactor arm moves with the shaft.

Mounted on disk 26 adjacent contactor arm 46 are sixteen segments 52 which extend radially as shown in Figure 6 and are rigidly fixed at their outer ends to the disk. The inner ends of these segments are not fixed but they rest on a central contactor ring 54 fixed to disk 20 (see also Figure 2). Segments 52 are of spring brass so that their inner ends are self-urged into electrical contact with ring 54, but these inner ends of the segments may be lifted individually from the ring so as to break the electrical contact between the segments and the ring.

Referring now to Figure 3, imbedded in disk 20 are three concentric brass rings 56, 58, and 60 and the disk is of insulating material so that the rings are electrically insulated from each other. Each of-these ring has sixteen threaded holes 6| which are concentric with opening in disk 26, and these holes are in radial rows and in alignment with the respective segments 52 on the inner side of the disk. Therefore, any of the rings may be electrically connected with any of the segments by threading a screw through a selected hole 6|. For example, a shown in Figure 2, ring 56is' electrically connected to one of the segments 52 by a screw 62 threaded into one of the holes in this ring. The forward end of this screw not only makes electrical contact with the segment, but it also swings the endof the segment away from contactor ring 54 so as to break the contact between the segment and the contactor ringi Thus by the simple'procedure of threading a screw into a hole 6| an electrical connection is made between one of the rings and one of the segments and at the same time the electrical connection between that segment and the contactor ring '54 is broken. The rows of holes 6| 'are numbered from 1 to 16 to correspond to the respective segments 52. The numbering is related to the numbers on dial disk 32 in such a manner that arm 46 is always adjacent the segment having the same number as that which appears through opening 38. Illustratively (see Figure 3), rings 56-, 58 and 60 are connected respectively to segments numbered II, I3 and I2.

As outlined above, the pushing of plunger knob 28 slides shaft 24 to the right and this carries contactor'arm 46 to the right and moves contact 48 into engagement with the outer end of one of the segments 52. If the particular segment engaged by contact48 lies against contactor ring 54, there is thus completed an electrical circuit from contactor arm 46 to contactor ring 54; but, if the particular segment engaged by contact 48 is connected by a screw 62 to one of rings 56, B, or 68, then the electrical contact is from arm 46 to that ring and there is no electrical contact to contactor ring 54.

It is desirable to provide for accurate alignment of arm 46 with one of the segments 52 as the arm moves to the right, and this alignment is provided by a pin 64 which is shown in the lower left-hand corner of Figure 2 and is rigidly mounted near the periphery of dial disc 32. This pin is adapted to project through any one of sixteen holes 66 which are positioned around the periphery of front plate 2|. (See Figure 4.) Furthermore, front plate 2| carries a pair of spring pressed pins 68 which are oppositely spaced as shown in Figure 4 and project toward dial disc 32' as shown 'bestin Figu'reZ'. These pins are positioned so as to align'with and enter in succession sixteen detents I0 on the mating face of dial disc 32. Therefore, as shaft 24 is rotated by knob 26, it tends to stop only when the two pins 68 are seated in the bottom of a pair of the detents I0, and the relationship is such that, withthetpins thus seated, contactor arm 46 is in alignment with one of segments 52 and pin 64 is in alignment with one of the holes 66-.

As indicated above, the assembly includes four identical relays an d these are enclosed within shell I8. These relays are best shown in Figure 5 and are indicated at 12, I4, 16, and 18. The structure of these relays is shown best in Figure '7, wherein it is seen that each relay has an angle bracket which is fixed to front plate 2| by a screw 82 and which has rigidly mounted thereon an ironcore 84 and a coil or solenoid 86. Bracket 80 also carries an armature 88 which is hinged to the bracket by a leaf spring 99 clamped to the bracket and the armature by screws. Each of the armatures carries at its opposite sides a pair of contactor arms 92 (see Figure 5), each of which carries a pair of contacts 9| and 93 (see alsoyFigure 2) which are positioned on the opposite sides of the arm and which are adapted to engage respectively the contacts of two contactor arms 94 and 96. Spring 9|! nor.- mally urges the armature toward contactor arm 96 but when solenoid 86 is energized the armature is drawn toward core 84 with the result that the circuit is broken to contactor arm 96 and a and the electrical circuit for the assembly is formed by connecting these segments in series with the other electrical elements of the assembly. Accordingly, each of the contactor arms 94 and 96, as well as each set of the contacts 9| and 93, is connected to one of the segments, and, as is shown at the bottom of Figure 2, external connections to the assembly are provided through binding posts such as I06. I I 7 Referring now to Figure 8 wherein the electricalcircuit isrepresented schematically, the four relays are represented at the central portion of the figure asithe reset relay I 2 and' the three sequence or combination relays 14,16 and 18. Reset relay, I2 has a solenoid I68 and armature III! which normallyengages a lower contact |I2 but which engages an upper contact I I4 when the solenoid is energized. 'YRelay Mhas a solenoid I'I6 anda pair of armatures H8 and I20; when solenoidI I6 is de-energized, armature I29 engages a contact I22 and when the solenoid is energized armature I29 engages a contact I24 v and armature I I8 engages a contact I26. "Relays 15 and 1.8 may be similar, in that each may have two armaturesfhowever. sincecniy'onearmatm'e oirelay 181s used. onlyone hasbeeniillustrated in Eigm-e 8. Relay I8Ihas a solenoidlss and armatures I28 and I30. each oi whichhastwo contacts I36 and 1.3.8, and 140 and I421respec- .tlve'ly. Relay 18lhasa5olen0ld "I31 and 8.111311113- ture I34 with a single contact I48.

As shown at the left. a'battery 150 has its positive terminal connected to armature H0 and solenoid I08 of relay 12, and;its. negative terminal connected through a line I54 to armature I34 01 relay .18 and contactoriarmlfi. 'Iireother side to! solenoid I08 of relay '12 is connected through alline J80 to the central 'contactor'ring 54 and also to contact I22 of relay J4 and contact I42 of relay 16. Oneside of each of solenoids I16, I35, and I31 is connected through :a line I62 tocontact .I I2 so that when solenoid "I08 is deenergized the positive side of thebatteryisconnected to each of these solenoids. These solenoids are also connected through lines I64, I86, and I68, respectively, to rlngs 80,..58, and 58 and, as explained above, contact 48 of contactor arm 46 may be connected selectively to any of these rings or to ring 54.

Contact II4 of relay 12 is connected through a line I10 to a signal horn I12, the other side of which is connected through a line I.14.to the negative side of the battery. Armature iIlB of relay "is connected through .aline I16 to .contact I36 of relay 18, and armature IZBoiJelay 16 is connected through aline I18 to line 154 and thence to the negative side-of the battery.

Conact I24 of relay 14 is connected through a line I82 to contact I38 and the solenoid I 350i relay 16, and contact I40 of relay 16 is connected through a line I84 to solenoid I31 of relay 18. Contact I48 of relay 18 is connected through a line I86 to a lock releasing mechanism I88, the other side of which is connected through a line I90 to the positive side of the battery. Therefore, when armature I34 of relay 18 is raised by the energization of solenoid I31, the lock releasing mechanism I88 is energized and the lock is thereby opened.

As indicated above, the sequence relays 14, 16, and 18 must be energized in the order named before a circuit is completed which will close the switch I34-I48 and thereby energize the lock releasing mechanism I88. Furthermore, the energization of reset relay 12 releases any of the sequence relays which are then energized and it energizes the signal horn I12.

Let us assume that there are three screws 62 positioned as is shown in Figure 3 so that rings 58, 58 and 80 are connected respectively to segments 52 numbered 11, 13 and 12, and the thirteen remaining segments are connected to contactor ring 54; then, with the negative side of the battery connected to contactor arm 46, the pushing of plunger knob 28 completes a circuit through contact 48 to the selected segment and then through the ring connected to that segment to one of solenoids I08, II6, I35, or I31. This completes a circuit to energize the selected solenoid; if this is solenoid I08, armature H0 is raised so as to break the connection between the positive side of the battery and solenoids II6, I35, and I31 and at the same time a circuit is completed from the positive side of the battery through armature H0 and contact H4 and line I10 to energize signal horn 112 or any other alarm device.

The completing of a circuit through ring 60 and line I64 energizes solenoid II6 and raises aririatures IIO'and I20. "'Il-ieraisingoi'armature II8 closes a circuit from solenoid II'6 through contact I26, armature H8, and a line Il16'to contact I36 of relay 18 and thence through armature I28 and aline I18-to line I54 and'to the negative side or the'battery; thus, a circuit .is completed'fromthe negative side of the battery to'solenoid '6. Therefore, contact I26 cooperates with armature M8 to complete *a hold-in circuit to hold'the relay :closed after the solenoid has once been energized ithrough ring 60. With relay "thus-energized and armature I28 thus held in raised qiosition, 'ithe connecting of a circuit from 'contactt48'to ring 58 completes a circuit from the negative side of the battery through line I86, armature 120, contact 1I24 and line I82 to solenoid I35 with the :result 'thatrelay 16 is .Thisraises-armature I28so that the hold in circuititor relay v14 is de-energized. Howevenarmature 128 engages contact I38 so as .to complete aihold-iin circuit for-relay 16 iromsole- 'noidtflthroughrcontact I38,iarmature I-28 and .iines 118,154. .The .energization of relay 16 also raisesarmature I38 into engagement with con tact I40 and this connects line I68 through contact-.140 and line I148 tosolenoid I31, Thus, with relay 18 energized the completing of a circuit from contact 48 through the propersegrnent 52 to 68 completesacircuit from the negative side ot'thebatteryto solenoid I31 :so as to energize relay 18. indicated above, this raises armature vI 34 so as to. energize the *lock releasing mechanism 188. 'It :is thus seen that the sequential-operation oi ithesezrelays operates the locking device. However, during thesequential operation the energization 'oI-arelay 16-breaks the hold-in circuit for relay 14. Furthermore, contact I22 of relay 14 and contact I42 of relay 18 are connected to line I68 so that if lines I66 or I88 are energized out oi sequence, the reset relay 12 is energized. As outlined above, the energization of relay 12 energizes horn I12, and at the same time the connection between the battery and line I62 is broken by the raising of armature I I0 from contact II2. Thus, the relays 14 or 16 whichever is then energized, is immediately de-energized.

After once being energized, relay 16 in the circuit shown is held energized even after the energization of relay 18 until it is de-energized by breaking its circuit, e. g., by reset relay 12.

With this circuit as shown the resetting, i. e., the releasing of both armatures I20 and I30 by means of the reset relay 12 will be accompanied by a blast on the horn I12. Obviously this can be avoided by inserting into the circuit of the relays 14 and 16, e. g., in I52, I62 or I84, a switch normally closed but adapted to be momentarily opened by the operator when he wishes to lock the car. Such a switch may be operated by the door handle or may be tied to the ignition switch so that the reset relay would be energized momentarily each time the ignition switch is turned.

The lock releasing mechanism I88 may be the spring latch engaged every time the door is closed and releasable only electrically by the circuit shown or it may be a locking bolt in addition to the ordinary spring latch, the bolt being thrown by a backward movement of the handle and released only by the electrical circuit shown.

In order to provide for operation of the lock it the battery should run down or the power source otherwise should fail, it is desirable to provide an external connection outlet by which the ordinary battery or other power source can 'be disconnected'from thecircuit and a portable battery connectedin instead; Iclaim: 3; 1. A control device including a series :of sequentially operable electric relays, which comprises a plurality of spaced-concentric conductor rings connected respectively to said relays, a

'to'rotate said'shaft' 'andato'project' said shaft axially whereby said arm contactsra selected segment for relative actuation. of said relays.

2. An electrical control device having a current source and circuit means adapted to connectsaid current source sequentially to relays, which comprises a plurality of concentric metal rings connected respectively to said relays, a plurality of spring arms positionedtradially with respect 'to said rings, a plurality of screws which may be projected selectively'to connect any selected ring to any'selected spring arm, and a contactor arm rotatably mounted to engage said spring arm selectively whereby an electrical connection.- may be completed from said contactor arm through predetermined spring armsiand rings :to-the respective relays for selective actuationthereof.-.

ed within saidshelland adapted to-be connected with selected rings, andl aj rotatable contactor arm adapted to engage any selected segment for selective actuation for said relays.

4.-Apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said segments are spring urged against the smallest of said rings and wherein screws are provided to project through the other rings and urge selected segments away from said smallest ring while providing electrical contactbetween the screws and the respective segments.

5. Apparatus as describedin claim 3, wherein a rotatable dial is provided which bears numbers designating the respective segments through which the electrical circuit may be completed.

6. Apparatus as described in claim 3, wherein said contactor arm is mounted on a slidable and rotatable shaft, a knob to rotate said shaft, and a plunger knob which is adapted to bedepressed thereby to move said shaft axially for selective engagement of said contactor arm with said spring segments.

, HORACE S. CHASE.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent: v

v UNITED STATES PATENTS Number. Name Date 910,478 Yates Jan. 19, 1909 1,724,792 Chase et a1 Aug. 13, 1929 2,066,278 v Keil Dec.'29, 1936 2,197,802 James Apr. 23, 1940 2,225,715 Schneider Dec. 24, 1940 2,244,658 Brugger June 10, 1941 2,288,783 Brownshield July 7, 1942 

